Ministering in Black and White: Preparing Black Pastors and White Congregations to Minister Together Effectively

“As the number of Black pastors accepting positions at predominantly White churches increases (and the pastors continue to face substantial barriers, costs, and stresses that white leaders do not face), it is important to look at the challenges and preparations needed for a Black pastor and White church to do ministry together effectively. ”

Team Members/Contributors

Darryl Thompson Powell Resurrection Lutheran Church of Franklin Park, IL Contact Me

About this pastoral study project

After the Great Recession of 2008 and the Covid-19 Pandemic, it has become harder for a Black pastor in a predominantly White denomination to find a Black church that can support them financially. Even though there has been an increase in multiracial congregations (where no one racial or ethnic group comprises more than 80 percent of the people), most mainline Christian denominations are still over 80% White (Pew Research Center, “The most and least racially diverse U.S. religious groups,” 07/27/2015). As a result, many Black pastors are accepting positions at predominantly White churches, facing substantial barriers, costs, and stresses that white leaders do not face (Racial Diversity in U.S. Congregations, 1998–2019, 2020, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, p 660). This study works to identify many of the challenges that Black pastors and predominately White churches experience when they enter ministry together. It also seeks to understand the ways that predominately White churches have prepared for having a Black pastor in their midst. Along with identifying the joys of doing ministry together, this study seeks to identify ways that both White churches and Black pastors can prepare for ministering together effectively.